Device and method for controlling the nox regeneration of a nox storage catalyst

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a method and device for controlling the NO x  regeneration of a NO x  storage catalyst ( 14 ) disposed in the exhaust gas train ( 12 ) of an internal combustion engine ( 10 ) of a motor vehicle. The NO x  regeneration is at least initiated when a threshold value is exceeded for a load state of a NO x  storage catalyst ( 14 ) or a NO x  emission downstream from the NO x  storage catalyst ( 14 ). According to the invention, it is detected (a) whether the internal combustion engine ( 10 ) is idling and (b) alternately or in any possible combination, the threshold value for the load state or the NO x  emission is increased; the NO x -regeneration is only initiated after a specific amount of time has elapsed and a current NO x  regeneration is interrupted when a shift occurs into an idling mode.

[0001] The invention relates to a method and device for controlling the NO_(x) regeneration of a NO_(x) storage catalyst located in the exhaust gas channel of an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle and having the features recited in the preambles of the independent claims.

[0002] It is known to integrate an exhaust gas cleaning device in the exhaust gas channel for the purpose of cleaning the exhaust of internal combustion engines. The exhaust gas cleaning device typically includes components such as a particle filters or catalysts. If a raw emission of NO_(x) of the internal combustion engine is to be reduced, then these catalysts include a reduction catalyst. If the mass flows of reducing pollutants, such as carbon monoxide CO and incompletely combusted carbohydrides CH are sufficiently large in the region of the reduction catalyst, then the reducing agent NO_(x) promotes a conversion to nitrogen.

[0003] To minimize fuel consumption, it has proven to be advantageous to operate the internal combustion engine under the lean air conditions. However, the operation in the range optimized for fuel consumption is associated, on one hand, with increased NO_(x) emission and, on the other hand, with reduced mass flows of reducing agents. To prevent high NO_(x) emission levels, a NO_(x) storage device is associated with the catalyst which absorbs the NO_(x) in form of a nitrate. The NO_(x) storage device can be combined with the catalyst as a so-called NO_(x) storage catalyst.

[0004] The mass storage capacity of the NO_(x) storage catalyst is, of course, limited, so that a NO_(x) regeneration has be performed in regular intervals to prevent NO_(x) breakthroughs. During the NO_(x) regeneration, the operating mode changes to stoichiometric or rich. The NO_(x) that had been absorbed in the form of nitrate is thereby released. Typically, a NO_(x) regeneration is initiated when a threshold value for a load state of the NO_(x) storage catalyst or a NO_(x) emission detected downstream by a NO_(x)-sensitive measuring device (breakthrough emission) is exceeded. This has the disadvantage that identical criteria are applied for all operating phases of the motor vehicle to determine the need for regeneration. However, if the NO_(x) regeneration is initiated in the idle phase, significantly less exhaust gas flows and therefore the mass flows of reducing agents that are present are also smaller, so that the desorbed NO_(x) can only be incompletely reduced on the catalyst component. NO_(x) regeneration during the idle phase does not only result in an undesirably high NO_(x) emission, but also leads to increased fuel consumption as compared to other operating phases where the internal combustion engine runs under higher load. Disadvantageous, the NO_(x) regeneration in the idle phase is frequently also accompanied by generation of undesirable noise. Moreover, NO_(x) regeneration under idle conditions takes longer due to the smaller exhaust gas flows, and the operating conditions with unfavorable fuel consumption must be maintained for a longer time.

[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and a device which can obviate the aforedescribed disadvantages of the conventional technology. The obtained solution should be easily integratable with proven process control models.

[0006] The object is solved according to the invention by the device and method for controlling the NO_(x) regeneration of the NO_(x) storage catalyst having the characterizing features recited in the independent claims. For example, a lean phase in idle mode can be extended to the next absolutely essential NO_(x) regeneration or can be controlled with this method according to the predetermined time intervals by:

[0007] (a) determining if an internal combustion engine is switched into an idle mode, and

[0008] (b) alternatively or in any combination

[0009] increasing in the idle mode the threshold value for the load state or the NO_(x) emission,

[0010] initiating the NO_(x) regeneration after predetermined time intervals have passed, and

[0011] interrupting a current NO_(x) regeneration when changing into the idle mode.

[0012] The device according to the invention includes means for carrying out the aforedescribed method steps. Such means is preferable a control device in which a procedure is stored in digitized form which enables control of the NO_(x) regeneration in idle mode. The control device can be implemented as an independent control unit or can be integrated into an often already existing engine controller.

[0013] If a NO_(x) regeneration is performed during a change into the idle mode, then the NO_(x) regeneration is preferably completed, if the change into the idle mode occurs in a fuel-cutoff phase, if a rotation speed exceeds a predetermined threshold value or a motor vehicle speed also exceeds a predetermined limit speed. If the NO_(x) regeneration is interrupted, then a marker is set which causes the NO_(x) regeneration to continue in a subsequent acceleration phase. Of course, the marker is removed if a NO_(x) regeneration had to be already performed in the idle mode.

[0014] Preferably, the NO_(x) regeneration is performed by setting a lambda value in the range between 0.85 to 1.0. In any event, the NO_(x) regeneration should be performed under less rich conditions than is otherwise typical for NO_(x) regenerations. In this way, the noise level can be reduced in comparison to the “normal” NO_(x) regeneration at lambda values that are typically significantly less than 0.85. According to another preferred embodiment of the method, a NO_(x) regeneration in idle mode is always initiated if for any reason a change into a=1 operation is required. This can be the case, for example, when the pressure in a brake booster should be increased.

[0015] Generally, the aforedescribed procedures can reduce the number of NO_(x) regenerations in idle mode as compared to the other operating phases of the motor vehicle, so that fuel consumption, NO_(x) emission during the NO_(x) regeneration, as well as the noise generation are reduced.

[0016] Additional preferred embodiments of the invention are disclosed as additional features in the dependent claims.

[0017] The invention will now be described in detail with reference to an embodiment illustrated in the appended drawings. It is shown in:

[0018]FIG. 1 a schematic diagram of an internal combustion engine with a NO_(x) storage catalyst arranged in the exhaust gas channel, and

[0019]FIG. 2 a schematic block diagram for controlling a NO_(x) regeneration of the NO_(x) storage catalyst in idle mode.

[0020]FIG. 1 shows an internal combustion engine 10 with a NO_(x) storage catalyst 14 arranged downstream in the exhaust channel 12. Associated with the exhaust gas channel 12 is a suitable sensor circuitry for measuring the air conditions in the exhaust or the fractions of specific pollutants. For example, a gas sensor 16 can be provided as a lambda probe or a gas sensor 18 as a NO_(x)-sensitive measuring device. The data measured by the sensor circuitry are supplied in a known manner in a motor controller 20. Models are stored in the motor controller 20 in digitized form for determining regulated values for the components associated with the internal combustion engine 10. The components enable control of an air-fuel ratio, an ignition angle or an injected fuel quantity in the combustion process. For example, regulated values can represent an opening angle of an exhaust return valve 22 or a position of a throttle 24. The device and the method for regulating the combustion process are sufficiently known and are therefore not described in detail at this place.

[0021] In addition, other status parameters, for example a flap position of a throttle or a gas pedal angle are inputted into the motor controller 20, which can be used to determine in a known manner if the motor vehicle is idling. The status of the motor vehicle is subsequently read into a control device 36 which is implemented in the motor controller 20.

[0022] If an excess of oxygen is present during the combustion process of an air-fuel mixture, a raw emission of NO_(x) of the internal combustion engine 10 increases, while at the same time the quantity of reducing agents carbon monoxide CO and incompletely combusted carbohydrides CH, which are required for converting NO_(x), decreases. Since this operating range has proven to have a particularly advantageous fuel consumption, the NO_(x) has to be absorbed in a storage component of the NO_(x) storage catalyst 14 to prevent NO_(x) emission. If the operating mode changes into a stoichiometric or rich mode, then the NO_(x), which is stored in form of nitrate, is desorbed again very quickly, at least immediately after the atmosphere in the NO_(x) storage catalyst 14 changes. If the mass flows of reducing agents are too low, then the reducing agents cannot be supplied in sufficient quantity to the catalyst component of the NO_(x) storage catalyst, which can cause undesirable NO_(x) emission.

[0023] With the method described hereinafter (see FIG. 2), the lean operating mode can be maintained longer under idle conditions which typically have lower exhaust gas flows, which reduces the number of NO_(x) regenerations in the idle mode in comparison to other operating phases. Moreover, noise generation caused by the NO_(x) regeneration can be suppressed.

[0024] First, it is determined in an initial query if the motor vehicle is idling (step S1). If this is not the case, then the NO_(x) regeneration of the NO_(x) storage catalyst 14 can be controlled by a conventional process. For example, a load state of the NO_(x) storage catalyst 14 or a NO_(x) emission downstream of the NO_(x) storage catalyst 14 can be monitored (step S2). If this quantity exceeds a threshold value, the NO_(x) regeneration is initiated by changing into the stoichiometric or rich operation.

[0025] If the motor vehicle is idling, then it is determined in a subsequent query (step S3), if the change into the idle mode occurs during an ongoing NO_(x) regeneration. If this is affirmative, then it is determined in step S4, if a fuel cutoff phase exists and/or if the motor vehicle still has a speed above a predetermined limit speed, and/or if a rotation speed exceeds a predetermined threshold value. If these boundary conditions are fulfilled, then the NO_(x) regeneration is first completed (step S5). Otherwise, the current NO_(x) regeneration is interrupted and a marker is set (step S6). Setting this marker ensures that the NO_(x) regeneration is resumed at the end of the idle phase, for example in a subsequent acceleration phase of the motor vehicle.

[0026] After the steps S5 and S6 or if the change into the idle mode does not occur during an ongoing NO_(x) regeneration (step S3), new threshold values for determining the need for regeneration are set (step S7). The threshold values which are used with conventional processes for the load state and/or the NO_(x) emission are then increased. It will be understood that the values have to be set in a manner that no significant NO_(x) breakthroughs can occur during in idle mode, which due to the low exhaust gas mass flows can be guaranteed even if the threshold values are higher than for the other operating phases of the internal combustion engine 10.

[0027] As an alternative to the latter approach, a fixed time interval can be set in step S7, wherein the NO_(x) regeneration has to be performed at the end of this time interval. Advantageously, in addition to the aforedescribed approach for controlling the NO_(x) regeneration in idle mode, the air-fuel ratio during the NO_(x) regeneration can be set to a value in a range of =0.85 to 1.0, and at least less rich than is otherwise typical for NO_(x) regenerations, which reduces the noise generation. of reference numerals

[0028]10 internal combustion engine

[0029]12 exhaust gas channel

[0030]14 NO_(x) storage catalyst

[0031]16 gas sensor

[0032]18 gas sensor

[0033]20 engine controller

[0034]22 exhaust gas return valve

[0035]24 throttle flap

[0036]36 control device 

1. Method for controlling a NO_(x) regeneration of a NO_(x) storage catalyst (14) arranged in an exhaust gas channel (12) of an internal combustion engine (10) for motor vehicles, wherein the NO_(x) regeneration is initiated at least when a threshold value for a load state of the NO_(x) storage catalyst (14) or a NO_(x) emission downstream of the NO_(x) storage catalyst (14) is exceeded, characterized in that (a) it is determined if the internal combustion engine (10) is switched into an idle mode, and (b) alternatively or in any combination the threshold value for the load state or the NO_(x) emission is increased in idle mode, the NO_(x) regeneration is initiated after predetermined time intervals have passed, and a current NO_(x) regeneration is interrupted when changing into the idle mode.
 2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that a current NO_(x) regeneration is not interrupted when changing into the idle mode, if a fuel cut-off phase occurs, if a motor vehicle speed exceeds a predetermined limit speed or if a rotation speed exceeds a predetermined threshold value.
 3. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that if a current NO_(x) regeneration is interrupted, a marker is set which causes the NO_(x) regeneration to be continued in a subsequent acceleration phase of the motor vehicle.
 4. Method according to claim 3, characterized in that the marker is removed if a NO_(x) regeneration already had to be performed in idle mode.
 5. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the NO_(x) regeneration is performed in idle mode by setting a lambda value in a range of 0.85 to 1.0, but in any event less rich than is otherwise typical for NO_(x) regeneration.
 6. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the NO_(x) regeneration is initiated when for any reason a change into the =1 operation is required.
 7. Device for controlling a NO_(x) regeneration of a NO_(x) storage catalyst (14) arranged in an exhaust gas channel (12) of an internal combustion engine (10) for motor vehicles, wherein the NO_(x) regeneration is initiated at least when a threshold value for a load state of the NO_(x) storage catalyst (14) or a NO_(x) emission downstream of the NO_(x) storage catalyst (14) is exceeded, characterized in that means are provided for (a) determining if an internal combustion engine (10) is switched into an idle mode, and (b) alternatively or in any combination increasing in idle mode the threshold value for the load state or the NO_(x) emission, initiating the NO_(x) regeneration after predetermined time intervals have passed, and interrupting a current NO_(x) regeneration when changing into the idle mode.
 8. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that the means comprise a control device (36), in which control device a procedure is stored in digitized form for controlling the NO_(x)-regeneration of the NO_(x) storage catalyst (14) in idle mode.
 9. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that the control device (36) is integrated in an engine controller (20). 